Is it an ego thing?

[DarkHoarse]

Or is there some other explanation as to why Rob Lowe still appears on the opening credits when his physical presence has been absent from at least 4 episodes now??

[Admin]

Probably something in his contract stating he gets top billing for the duration of said contract.

Some might consider this a spoiler so highlight below to read:

Rob Lowe will be back after this week's episode. The excellent episode The California 47th centres on his campaign, and the following week's Red Haven's On Fire sends him into West Wing sunset with no explanation of how things went for him. And then he's off the opening credits, and nobody get's specific top-billing (except for Martin Sheen, forever at the end) since it's all alphabetical now.

[Josh Lyman]

probably ego motivated ,

[DarkHoarse]

Well, now he really has disappeared. What a shock it was to see Stockard Channing appear first in the credits for "Privateers" last night.

So, those in the know: is that it for Sam then? Toby hugging him and saying "Yay to Sam Seaborn"? I guesss I expected something a bit more conclusive. We just assume he lost and that's that?

Last night was pretty average plotwise (i.e. very good but not unforgettably brilliant), elevated by some of the funniest stuff Sorkin has yet written. Especially

Charlie goading the man with the least convincing French accent since the policeman in 'Allo 'Allo

CJ's laughing fit meeting that eccentric woman

and best of all

Donna shadowing that bloke and his girlfriend at the party

[Flamingo]

Well wasnt he supposed to have a job at the white house as a senior counsellor if he lost?

[DarkHoarse]

So did he pull off an amazing win then, hence unseen forever more?

Can anyone resolve this once and for all?

[Laura Lyman]

I like to think that he won that's why he never returned. It's a bit disappointing that we never find out.

[Lemon Lyman]

I think I heard somewhere that we find out in Season 5